When I had my HP1 upgraded by Joe, he sent me a CD of recordings made with his then new microphones, as well as a cd of his own opera singing. I didn't know he was such a good singer.
The modded HP1 had the polarity switches disabled and new drivers put in and treated. The cable was also changed.It did make a improvement. I had a couple of pairs of stock HP2 to compare so it wasn't my imagination. The sound seems to extend more at both ends and the biggest gain is in the mid- more textured and detailed. I sent him the other two HP2 to mod since then.
Joe has been looking after his sick wife Brigitte for a while and this puts a lot of stress on him. In typical Joe Grado style, he started doing research on brain cancer treatment and questioning the regular medical routine. He ended up organizing the chemotherapy himself! According to him, it worked much better. He is still full of energy and wants to get back on his microphones, headphones and writing papers.
I wish them both well (Joe’s 87th birthday is coming up). Brigitte is a very nice German lady. When I talked to Joe about this Italian and German marriage, he quickly corrected me and said that he was no Italian- he is from Sicily.
I took my modded HP1 to the last bay area meet and some thought that they were more forward than the stock ones, which is true. I wonder if some people might see that as an unwelcome change? (not me)
Cheers.
Paul